Solitaire checkers game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A base serving as a playing surface for a game of solitaire checkers, the base comprising a pair of triangular configurated panels hingedly connected together along one edge thereof, and each panel having a plurality of hemispherical recesses therein so to serve as stations for selectively holding a plurality of marbles being moved in the playing of the game, the recesses in the two panels mating to form spherical cavities for said marbles.

United States Patent Jesse M. Clark 582 Morrison Ave, Lexington, Ohio 44904 824,887

May 15, 1969 June 15, 1971 lnventor App]. No. Filed Patented SOLITAIRE CHECKERS GAME APPARATUS 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figs.

(1.8. CI 273/133, 273/153, 273/136D Int. Cl. A63f 3/02 Field of Search 273/133, 136, 153, 131

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1917 Mason 273/136 3,074,721 1/1963 De Moon 273/133 3,077,677 2/1963 Malkin et a1 273/136X 3,148,886 9/1964 Sharp 273/136 3,462,150 8/1969 Eriksson 273/131 Primary Examiner- Delbert B. Lowe ABSTRACT: A base serving as a playing surface for a game of solitaire checkers, the base comprising-a pair of triangular configurated panels hingedly connected together along one edge thereof, and each panel having a plurality of hemispherical recesses therein so to serve as stations for selectively holding a plurality of marbles being moved in the playing of the game, the recesses in the two panels mating to form spherical cavities for said marbles.

SOLITAIRE CHECKERS GAME APPARATUS This invention relates generally to game boards.

A principle object of the present invention is to provide a novel game of solitaire checkers and wherein there is a foldable playing surface upon which a plurality of marbles are moveable between stations or positions, each of the positions comprising a depression in the upper surface of the playing surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a solitaire checkers wherein the playing surface is comprised of a pair of panels of triangular shape, being hingedly connected together along one edge thereof so as to form a case and cover for containing the marbles that constitute the playing pieces of the game.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel solitaire checkers wherein the game may be played by two or more players.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a solitaire checkers which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the game board thereof, and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showing the base constituting the playing surface in a folded over position to serve as a case for the playing pieces.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a solitaire checkers according to the present invention wherein there is a playing board 11 comprised of a pair of triangular configurated panels 12 and 13 which are connected together along one edge thereof by means ofa hinge 14.

Each of the panels 12 and 13 are accordingly bounded by three straight sides 15, and each has an upper surface 16 that constitutes a playing surface. Each of the playing surfaces 16 are provided with a plurality of depressions 17 therein, the depressions 17 being arranged in five rows each of which has a different number of depressions therein, and each of the depressions accommodating a spherical configurated marble 18.

As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing, it is readily evident that the playing board also serves as a case for enclosing the playing pieces or marbles 18 when the game is not in use. It is to be noted that each of the depressions 17 are of hemispherical configuration so that when a depression 17 of one panel is mated with a corresponding hemispherical depression 17 of the other panel, the result is a spherical cavity within which the marble 18 may be clearly seen in FIG. 3 and wherein accordingly one of the panels serves as a base while the other panel serves as a cover over the base so as to constitute a case.

In operative use, the game starts with one-halfofthe playing board, or one panel thereof, filled with marbles l8 and one marble is jumped to the other panel of the playing field, the object then being to jump over one from the original panel of the playing field and placing the marble in the receiving panel, all the while continuing on jumping until all the marbles from one panel of the playing field are transferred to the opposite playing field panel.

Two or more may play taking alternate turn ofjumping, but the best way to play is to play solitaire, or alone. When the original or starting playing field panel is transferred by jumping to the opposite panel, then the lid is closed and all the marbles are in a starting position for beginning another new game thereafter. Until the players get an idea of how to jump they will usually be left with two marbles they cannot jump with in regulation fashion. as provided herein. When, however, they do discover a jumping sequence that is perfect, then the players should start a umpmg sequence to make It more challenging all over again.

Thus there has been provided a game of solitaire checkers and wherein the game is self-loading into operative position for starting a game by simply opening a lid or uppermost panel, thus leaving all the marbles in the lower panel and ready to start the game. By taking out one playing piece and jumping forward, side ways or backward, any adjacent playing piece may be taken. Place the playing piece jumped in a depression in the opposite or upper original lid panel. To reload the game, place the rest of the playing pieces in the depressions on the originally top panel and turn the bottom up over the top. Then turn the entire device over, open the top again and start another game.

What I now claim is:

l. In a solitaire checkers game apparatus, the combination ofa playing board and a plurality ofplaying marbles, said playing board being comprised of a pair of members hingedly attached together so that when folded into the closed position they may serve as a case, and when they are pivoted to a horizontal position, they serve as a playing surface, each of said members comprising a flat member of generally equilateral triangular configuration, each of said members accordingly having three straight sides, said flat members comprising panels which are pivotally connected together by a hinge along one side of each panel, each of said panels having an upper side, said upper sides together forming said playing surface, and each of said upper sides comprising said playing surface being provided with a plurality of depressions formed downwardly therein for receiving said marbles, said plurality of depressions comprising a plurality of hemispherical openings arranged in five rows, a minimum of said openings in one of said rows comprising a singular opening while the longest of said rows comprises five openings, each row between said rows having one opening more than a row adjacent one side thereof and having one opening less than a row adjacent an opposite side thereof, the hemispherical depressions of one panel being in alignment with the corresponding hemispherical depressions upon the other said panel so as to form a spherical cavity when said panels are pivoted into a closed position so as to form said case, said spherical cavities thus serving to store said marbles therewithin, and said hemispherical depressions providing playing positions upon said playing surface, and said flat panels each being ofa thickness approximately the diameter of said marbles so that said depressions are in depth approximately one-half the thickness of said panels. 

1. In a solitaire checkers game apparatus, the combination of a playing board and a plurality of playing marbles, said playing board being comprised of a pair of members hingedly attached together so that when folded into the closed position they may serve as a case, and when they are pivoted to a horizontal position, they serve as a playing surface, each of said members comprising a flat member of generally equilateral triangular configuration, each of said members accordingly having three straight sides, said flat members comprising panels which are pivotally connected together by a hinge along one side of each panel, each of said panels having an upper side, said upper sides together forming said playing surface, and each of said upper sides comprising said playing surface being provided with a plurality of depressions formed downwardly therein for receiving said marbles, said plurality of depressions comprising a plurality of hemispherical openings arranged in five rows, a minimum of said openings in one of said rows comprising a singular opening while the longest of said rows comprises five openings, each row between said rows having one opening more than a row adjacent one side thereof and having one opening less than a row adjacent an opposite side thereof, the hemispherical depressions of one panel being in alignment with the corresponding hemispherical depressions upon the other said panel so as to form a spherical cavity when said panels are pivoted into a closed position so as to form said case, said spherical cavities thus serving to store said marbles therewithin, and said hemispherical depressions providing playing positions upon said playing surface, and said flat panels each being of a thickness approximately the diameter of said marbles so that said depressions are in depth approximately one-half the thickness of said panels. 